Abstract: A method for inspecting a heating member for an electronic cigarette is disclosed. The method improves positioning of the heating member with respect to the power electrodes of an electronic cigarette so as to provide a more reliable electrical connection between the heating member and power electrodes. The method includes image processing to calculate a distance between coils of the heating element.

Abstract: A method for making smokers' articles by subdividing a semifinished item which includes least five sticks aligned with each other along a main axis, at least two of the sticks are of a type different from the others; the method includes a step of forming the semifinished item by aligning the five sticks in a predetermined succession along the main axis and a step of subdividing a single rod into at least three sticks, followed by a step of aligning along the main axis each of the three sticks obtained from the rod alternating them with each of the sticks of different type, so as to form the semifinished item.

Abstract: A device for changing operative portions for tobacco industry machines including a receiving portion made in a structural part of a tobacco industry machine; a plug member attached to an operative portion of the tobacco industry machine, a locking member, housed in the structural part of the machine and configured to adopt a locked position, where it locks the plug member in the receiving portion, and a released position, where it releases the plug member from the receiving portion and actuating means acting on the locking member at least to move the locking member from the locked position to the released position.

Abstract: A system for transferring a group of components of electronic cigarettes from a first to a second operating station includes a conveyor extends from a feeding zone to a disengagement zone and has a plurality of seats. A feeding device receives the components and feeds them into the seats at a first mutual distance. A disengaging and transferring device operates to disengage the components from their seats and transfer the components to a collecting zone. A compacting device operates in the collecting zone to move the components closer together and place them at a second mutual distance that is smaller than the first mutual distance. A tray faces and receives from the collecting zone the group of components which have been placed close together. A pushing device pushes the components from the collecting zone into the tray. A movement device transfers the tray to the second operating station.

Abstract: A system for assembling and filling two groups of electronic cigarettes, includes first and second working stations for assembly/inspection operations on a first group of electronic cigarettes and disposed upstream and downstream of a first conveying path, respectively. Third and fourth working stations perform assembly/inspection operations on a second group of electronic cigarettes and are disposed upstream and downstream of a second conveying path, respectively. A single filling station receives the first group at a first loading zone and the second group at a second loading zone to fill the first group and the second group with a filling product; and releases the first group of filled electronic cigarettes at a first unloading zone and the second group of filled electronic cigarettes at a second unloading zone towards the second working station and towards the fourth working station, respectively.

Abstract: A method for applying adhesive on a wrapping band of a smoking article includes moving the band along a feed direction, the band has a longitudinal direction of extension, opposing first and second surfaces, a first plurality of portions having a first thickness and a second plurality of portions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, the portions of the first and second pluralities being disposed alternately along the direction of extension. A nozzle having a delivery end, and the band are moved towards/away from each other between a first position, where the delivery end and the second surface are at a first distance which is less than or equal to the second thickness, and a second position, where the delivery end and the second surface are at a second distance greater than the second thickness. An adhesive is delivered on the first surface through the nozzle.

Abstract: A system for transferring a first group of components of electronic cigarettes from first to second operating stations includes a flat collecting surface extending from a feeding zone to a releasing zone. A feeding device receives the components and feeds them onto the collecting surface. A first abutment element abuts the first component of the first group. A second abutment element abuts the last component of the first group. A compacting and stabilizing device moves the components closer together and stabilizes their positions. A first movement device moves the first and second abutment elements along the collecting surface to transfer the first group to the releasing zone. A tray faces the releasing zone to receive the first group. A pushing device pushes the components from the releasing zone into the tray. A transferring device transfers the tray with the first group towards the second operating station.

Abstract: A method and a kit for adjusting a machine for wrapping or packing articles, including a conveyor associated with an electric motor where, in an operating condition, the motor drives the conveyor in rotation about its axis of rotation. The method includes associating the conveyor with a reference integral with the conveyor and disposed at an angular position about its axis of rotation; detecting the angular position of the conveyor relative to the force of gravity by measuring the angle between a radial line passing through the reference and the force of gravity; detecting the angular position of the axis of the motor relative to a zero reference associated with an angular position transducer of the motor; calculating and storing the angular displacement between the angular positions of the motor and the conveyor corresponding to the angular displacement between the zero reference and the force of gravity.

Abstract: A system for assembling electronic cigarette parts comprising cartridges and for filling the cartridges includes a first conveyor; a first group of carrier units connected to the first conveyor to be movable independently along the first conveyor and to receive and hold the parts; a first group of working stations for assembling/inspecting the cigarette parts on the first conveyor; a second conveyor, downstream of the first conveyor; and a second group of carrier units connected to the second conveyor to be movable independently along the second conveyor and to receive and hold the parts; a second group of working stations for assembling/inspecting the parts on the second conveyor; and a filling station, disposed between the first and second conveyors to receive the parts from the first conveyor, fill the respective cartridges, and feed the parts with the filled cartridges towards the second conveyor.

Abstract: A method of producing filter tips for cigarettes, each of which comprises two portions of filter material arranged on opposite ends of a portion of granular material; the first portion of filter material is wrapped in a sheet so as to obtain an intermediate element having a substantially tubular shape and an open end; the granular material and the second portion of filter material are then inserted through the open end, while the intermediate element is kept vertical with the open end facing upwards; in this way it is possible to obtain high quality filter tips at high speed.

Abstract: A tray for containing products with reduced longitudinal dimensions, including a plurality of accumulation chambers, each of which is delimited by a rear wall, a base wall and two side walls for containing a layer of a plurality of the products stored according to an ordered orientation and covering an entire surface of the rear wall The accumulation chambers define modules whose respective rear walls are parallel to each other and a distance between two rear walls of two adjacent modules is substantially the same as reduced longitudinal dimensions of the products contained therein. Each tray includes a plurality of stackable modules which can be closed in a pack to define the thickness of the tray itself. A connecting and disconnecting mechanism is provided between each module and another so that the tray may be composed of a variable number of modules.

Abstract: A system for in-line controlling of the ultrasonic welding of plastic components of an electronic cigarette, in which plastic components are welded to one another at a welding zone to define a welded group; the plastic components are such that the welded group has an air passage duct having a first open end and a second open end. The system includes: a chamber for receiving the welded group; a closure for closing the first open end; air supply for supplying air into the chamber.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a heating member for an electronic cigarette is disclosed. The method improves positioning of the heating member with respect to the power electrodes of an electronic cigarette so as to provide a more reliable electrical connection between the heating member and power electrodes. The method includes image processing to calculate a distance between coils of the heating element.

Abstract: A machine for making cigarette filters and which includes a forming beam having an internal channel whose transverse cross section changes shape along the main longitudinal direction of the channel. Porous conveyor means carry the tow along a feed path in the channel complying with the shape thereof and thereby being wrapped around the tow. At least one treatment station located along the feed path includes a nozzle for blowing a flow of steam into the channel. The nozzle includes a plurality of planar sectors positioned transversely to the channel and defining an overall planar flow orifice placed directly in communication with a steam feed duct. Each planar sector defines a respective planar flow orifice and at least two flow orifices have different thicknesses.

Abstract: A device for rolling cigarettes, filter cigarettes or filters, including a rolling channel delimited, at one end, by a rolling portion of a feed conveyor, and at the other end, by a rolling unit which includes an infeed rolling bed and an outfeed rolling bed located in succession along the travelling direction of the rolling channel and defining an infeed stretch and an outfeed stretch of the rolling channel, respectively. The infeed rolling bed is movable along the travelling direction independently of the outfeed rolling bed to produce different rolling modes along the infeed stretch and along the outfeed stretch.

Abstract: A method and assembly machine for producing multicomponent cigarettes, each having a number of portions. The assembly machine has a combining unit for forming groups of portions, each having at least two different first portions which are fed perpendicularly to their central axis; a first wrapping unit, which receives a succession of groups of portions from the combining unit, feeds them perpendicularly to their central axis, and winds a first sheet of wrapping material around each group of portions; and a second wrapping unit, which receives a succession of groups of portions from the first wrapping unit, feeds them perpendicularly to their central axis, and winds a second sheet of wrapping material around each group of portions.

Abstract: A device for moving tubular bodies, includes feeding means for feeding a plurality of tubular pieces, each extending along a respective axis of extension, where the feeding means are configured in such a way as to provide a succession of groups of tubular pieces where each group is defined by a predetermined number of tubular pieces positioned in succession along the respective axis of extension and transversely offset therefrom, and at least one translational transfer means configured to move the pieces along the respective axis of extension to juxtapose them and define an ordered succession of pieces. The translational transfer means is provided with at least one housing for containing at least one tubular piece and with blowing means operating inside the housing and configured to produce an air cushion by which the tubular piece is transferred translationally outside the housing along its respective axis of extension.

Abstract: A coupling unit and method for inserting a support fitted with a hygroscopic pad in a base during the manufacture of a disposable cartridge for an electronic cigarette; are provided: a first seat that accepts the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad; a second seat that accepts the base and can be axially aligned with the first seat; a transfer device that inserts the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad in the base by applying a relative axial movement between the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad and the base; and a suction device, which is coupled to a first end of the base opposite to a second end of the base through which the support fitted with the hygroscopic pad enters, and causes suction that acts inside the base.

Abstract: A system for in-line controlling of the ultrasonic welding of plastic components of an electronic cigarette, in which plastic components are welded to one another at a welding zone to define a welded group; the plastic components are such that the welded group has an air passage duct having a first open end and a second open end. The system includes: a chamber for receiving the welded group; a closure for closing the first open end; air supply for supplying air into the chamber.

Abstract: A laser soldering device for laser soldering an electric circuit of a heating portion of an electronic cigarette, the soldering device including a head having an emitting area where a laser beam is emitted and a feeding device to feed a heating portion of an electronic cigarette along a feed path, where the heating portion faces the head at the emitting area. A movement device is operatively connected to the head to move the head between first and second points of the electric circuit such that the laser beam is perpendicular to the respective surface to be soldered at the first and second points to form first and second connections, respectively. The head generates two distinct pulses of the laser beam at the first and second points.